The breeze swept across her face while she stood by the sea embracing the power from the sunset that painted the sky like a beautiful canvas. She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard a voice saying “What are you doing here alone, Maira?” She recognised even without turning that it was her best friend Aisha and without saying a single word, turned around, hugged her and started weeping. Aisha got scared if Maira was doing fine, her mind got cluttered with all the pessimistic thoughts. Finally, Maira gained some strength and said “It’s time for me to go, Ash”. There was a moment of silence between the two of them. Aisha was all confused about what Maira just said and asked her “Is everything fine, Maira. Please tell me how can I help you. Please tell me !”. This brought a smile to Maira’s face and she immediately replied sarcastically “God ! How can you be my best friend? You are so damn negative!”, she further clarified stating “Finally, What I wanted since so long is happening to me and Hell ya, I can’t keep calm”. Aisha felt relieved and enthralled on hearing Maira but was also intrigued about knowing what the big news is. 

After seconds of suspense building, Maira finally blurted out the big news and told Aisha that she has got an admit from her Dream University to pursue PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) for which she would be flying to London in two months. Aisha was beyond happy to see her best friend getting closer to what she has always desired for. In no time, Aisha started planning what are the must haves Maira should carry with her to London, cadences of when they would see each other by travelling across nations, how Maira is not allowed to make a best friend in her university and the list goes on and on. There was no stopping her from expressing the excitement that she was resonating. Maira felt so grateful for the opportunity she got and for all the people in her life she could share her joy with. She got all consumed in preparing for her University life in London and always had Aisha by her side for discussing petty things like how big of an umbrella should she carry to London. A week was left for Maira to say goodbye to her family and friends and for her to start off a new life in another part of the world. Luggage was almost packed, flight was booked and Farewell parties were all planned for the coming week. Maira was sitting on the couch speculating what she could have missed to put in the luggage and her phone rang while she was clouded with these thoughts. The phone call turned her life upside down. The unexpected had happened.

Maira got up from the couch and rushed to the hospital. She needed her best friend and without a second thought called up Aisha. As soon as Aisha picked up the phone, Maira started weeping and told her “Dad has got a heart attack. He’ll be fine, right ?”. Aisha undoubtedly replied “Uncle will be back to normal, soon. Don’t worry. I’ll meet you at the hospital”. 

Months passed and finally Maira’s dad was doing better and was keeping healthy now. Maira was by her father’s side all throughout and decided to drop her PhD plans for the time being. Maira got caught up between work & family and finally managed to pursue PhD from a local university but she never cribbed because she had her priorities clear. 

A decade passed and Maira was ready to start a new chapter in her life.She was welcomed gracefully in her new place of work. As soon as she entered the room, the student on the first bench got up and said “Welcome to the University, Dr. Maira. We all have heard so much about your work and we are elated to have you as our professor”. Guess What ? Maira couldn’t join her Dream University as a student but here she was in her Dream University as a faculty. Her first lecture got over and Aisha stood outside the classroom to embrace Maira with a big hug. As fate would have it, Maira was exactly where she had to be at the right time.